Ross County

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Interim boss Don Cowie feels he can use his long-standing relationships with Ross County players to continue instilling belief in the team.

Derek Adams claimed his Morecambe team were 100 times better than the side he inherited from Malky Mackay, during his third spell as manager.

But former assistant Cowie says his players have been "very receptive", and wants his side to build from their crucial win against Livingston.

“It’s a slightly different role,” Cowie told Sky Sports. “Naturally I have had to adapt.

“I think my role as assistant manager has enabled me to build up relationships with the players, and I have got to see that as a positive, and use it.

“I’m really enjoying it. It’s a great group of players I have got, very receptive, working very hard on the training ground, and it’s just about instilling the belief in them.

“I have seen them over a period of time, the last two-and-a-half years, I know what they are capable of, but it’s about striving for that consistency.”

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I sensed a change in David Martindale this weekend. Ahead of kick-off, you could see he was desperate for the game to start.

Before the relegation rivals met, I said it would be vitally important that Ross County picked up the three points and put Livingston to bed. However, with the way the game unfolded, I'm not sure it's a closed case.

They’ve got absolutely huge games to come against Motherwell and then St Johnstone. Now, Ross County are only two points behind the Perth Saints with a game in hand.

This next week is going to be absolutely huge for all three clubs at the bottom of the relegation tussle.

Despite losing that big game in the Highlands, I wouldn’t write Livingston off just yet. I saw a bit of the old Livi – and a bit of the old Martindale – on Saturday afternoon.

That’s not to say they’re going to survive, but even after defeat, I’m just not as certain as I was two weeks ago. It should be a fascinating conclusion to the season.

Michael Stewart was speaking to BBC Scotland's Sean McGill

Ross County ended an 11-match run without a victory by edging Livingston 3-2 on Saturday to extend their lead over the Scottish Premiership's bottom side to six points with a game in hand.

Now, on Tuesday, they host a St Mirren side who consolidated fifth place with a 2-0 win over St Johnstone but who have lost in their latest three visits to Dingwall without scoring.

Who would you like to see in County's starting line-up? Pick your team here.

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Jonathan Sutherland, Sportscene presenter

When Ross County needed somebody to step up, it was a forgotten figure who made his mark.

Eamonn Brophy's double fired the Staggies into the lead in what turned out to be a dramatic basement battle with Livingston.

His second goal was an absolute rocket and paved the way for a vital three points at the bottom of the table. Just how crucial could 'the wolf' prove in the Dingwall side's survival hopes?

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Josh Sims nets in injury time to give Ross County a 3-2 win over relegation rivals Livingston, who are now six points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your thoughts after Ross County prevailed in their basement battle against Livingston.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Anon: Each game is a cup final... simple. Magic result today.

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• Livingston attempted 18 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Ross County have a record of W3, D0, L0 when leading at half-time in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Livingston have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Dundee (16) and Aberdeen (15) have conceded more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Ross County have conceded 11 goals to opposition substitutes in the Scottish Premiership this season, no team has conceded more.

• Bruce Anderson has scored five goals this season (two in this game), more than any other Livingston player in the Scottish Premiership.

• Simon Murray has assisted three goals this season (two in this game), no Ross County player has more in the Scottish Premiership.

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Interim Ross County manager Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "Obviously delighted to get the three points. Losing the goal right after half-time gives Livingston the boost, but the boys showed great character after it was 2-2 to get the win. Now it's about building on that.

"Eamonn [Brophy] is someone I believe a lot in. He's a goalscorer, he's a threat. It's about him keeping that going. I'm hopeful that as the season goes on he'll get even better.

"I'm delighted for [matchwinner] Josh Sims. Again, he's a player I've got so much belief in. I was really keen to get him on the pitch and it didn't surprise me he popped up with the winner.

"We're at home again on Tuesday against St Mirren. We need to try and build on what we've achieved today. It's about recovering and making sure we're ready to go again.

"We'll enjoy the feeling, it's been a long time since we've got three points. Tonight is about enjoying that feeling and then tomorrow, we're focused on St Mirren."

Did you take in Ross County's crucial victory over Livingston, or follow from home?

Wherever you were, we want to hear from you. Can County start looking upwards now?

Get in touch.

Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

It's hard to over emphasise how big a result this was for County and interim manager Don Cowie.

They were winless in 10 league games and had their advantage over Livingston cut last week, which piled the pressure on this game.

They started brilliantly, albeit with some help from Livingston when Mohammed Sangare's poor control allowed Brophy in behind to calmly open the scoring.

There was nothing fortunate about the second goal, though, which was a thumping strike from Brophy which nearly took the net off after a good pass from Simon Murray.

Yes, they ceded the lead for the fourth time this season to Livingston, but crucially this time they got themselves out of jail.

Don Cowie makes two changes to his Ross County side for the visit of Livingston.

James Brown drops to the bench and Yan Dhanda misses out altogether. In come Teddy Jenks in midfield, and Jordan White up top.

Cowie says Dhanda has picked up a knock.

Ross County: Wickens, Efete, Ayina, Leak, Reid, Sheaf, Loturi, Jenks, Murray, White, Brophy.

Substitutes: Ross, Borthwick-Jackson, Brown, Sims, Harmon, Henderson, King, Khela.

• Follow the action

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Ross County fan Ramsay Banks says "the nerves are starting to set in" ahead of Saturday's relegation battle against Livingston.

Listen to the Scottish football podcast here.

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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie says his side "need to be ready to outrun and outfight Livingston" in Saturday's bottom-of-the-table showdown in Dingwall.

Livingston have narrowed the gap to three points, although their hosts have a game in hand, as Cowie makes his home debut in charge after two away defeats by Rangers and Dundee.

"It's going to be great to be at home," he told his club website. "It's been a tough period. We've played a lot of games away from home and it's one that we're really looking forward to.

"Naturally, people are going to put a lot of spotlight on the game with where we both are in the league table, but it's about making sure that we're prepared - as we do for every game - and ready for the challenges that come."

The two previous games between the sides this season have been drawn.

"I can remember the two games were very tight," former County and Scotland midfielder Cowie added. "It's going to be a real physical battle.

"It's important that we prepare properly and if we attack the game like I know we can then we can get a positive result and then we'll see what impact that is on the league table."

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• Ross County are unbeaten in three league games against Livingston (W1 D2), picking up as many points in this time (5) as they had across their previous seven against them in the Scottish Premiership (W1 D2 L4).

• Livingston have only lost one of their last six league trips to Ross County (W2 D3), a 2-0 defeat in May 2023.

• Ross County have lost each of their last four league matches, last losing five in a row within a single season in the Scottish Premiership in December 2020 (6).

• Livingston come into this match having lost all of their last nine away matches in the Scottish Premiership; they last lost more in a row within a single top-flight season when losing each of their final 11 away games of the 2005-06 campaign.

• Ross County have gained just one point from a losing position this season in the Scottish Premiership (2-2 draw v Hibernian), fewer than any other team in the competition. In fact, the Staggies have gone on to lose each of the last 10 league matches in which they have conceded the first goal.

Ross County's winless run in the Scottish Premiership extended to 10 games as they went down 2-0 at Dens Park last time out.

They face a titanic clash with bottom side Livingston in Dingwall on Saturday and can open up a six-point cap to the automatic drop with a game in hand.

Who would you like to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.

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Josh Reid admits "nobody wants to be part of" the Scottish Premiership play-off final as Ross County seek to move out of the relegation places.

County are three points ahead of bottom side Livingston, who have played a game more, and the two sides meet in Dingwall on Saturday.

Under Malky Mackay, Ross County came back from three goals down against Partick Thistle in last season's Premiership play-off final, and prevailed on penalties.

"There were a few nearly heart attacks last year with that game," said Reid, who sat out the fateful game with Thistle. "Nobody wants to be in that game. It's a double header that nobody wants to be part of.

"We know that we're more than capable of putting results together and getting our way up the table."

With Mackay and successor Derek Adams having moved on, interim boss Don Cowie has overseen defeats in his first two games in charge.

"The foundation needs to be hard work and I've seen that in both games," said Cowie. "So, as long as I'm getting that, then I can start to work on other aspects."

"I'm sure [Livingston will] be feeling confident [after beating St Mirren]."